Celebrating 80 years of Age UK Plymouth

On the 28^th November, The William and Patricia Venton Centre, Age UK’s Mount Gould home played host to the charity’s 80^th Anniversary, a celebration of the organisation’s past, present and future.

In a nod to the centre’s history, Monday 28^th November also marked 30 years since the official opening of the building. The William and Patricia Venton Centre now hosts Age UK Plymouth’s head office and day centre, Mount Gould’s Wellbeing Hub and the 24 room Short Term Care Centre that opened earlier in the year in partnership with LiveWell South West and Plymouth City Council.

Age UK Plymouth welcomed guests including Sue Dann, Plymouth’s Lord Mayor and Councillor for the Sutton and Mount Gould Ward, Councillor Dr John Mahony who recently opened the Wellbeing Hub and Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning Homes & Communities and councillor for the Plymstock Radford Ward encompassing Age UK Plymouth’s Dementia Day Centre on Memory Lane, The Broadway.

David Wood, Age UK Plymouth’s CEO said, “It’s an absolute privilege to be part of an organisation that has so steadfastly been dedicated to improving the lives of older people in it’s community for eighty years. The history of Age UK Plymouth is intertwined with the lives of many talented, incredible and dedicated individuals. We’re honoured to be custodians of this essential charity and our celebration has been a great opportunity to share our amazing history with our community, stakeholders and supporters.”

Friends of the charity and delegates from partner organisations across the city were also present including Plymouth City Council, LiveWell South West, National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth’s Arts Cinema, Penninsula Dental and others.

Highlights of the open day included several exhibits highlighting Age UK Plymouth’s eight decade history, and an installation demonstrating some of the principles from the Dementia Awareness Training that the charity provides free to groups and organisations across the city. Guests also had the opportunity to find out more about some of the incredible people and essential projects that are fulfilling the charity’s mission to make Plymouth a place where people love later life, and to make a pledge to support Age UK Plymouth as we start our next 80 years.

The event, months in the planning, has been an opportunity for the charity to share its unique history that has evolved from the incredible work started by Elspeth Sitters OBE (1912-2008). Arriving in the city in 1942, Mrs Sitters quickly identified that as a direct result of the Blitz that had devastated so much of the City, ‘home’ was often dilapidated back rooms, attics or even in sheds. Elspeth soon became acutely aware of the plight of those she visited and came face to face with poverty, loneliness and deprivation. She set about seeking ways in which she might make an effective contribution to the welfare of the City’s elderly residents.

“Age UK Plymouth has been working effectively in the background for eight decades, with a passion to make Plymouth a city where people love later life. Our organisation has an incredible history of innovation and a fascinating story of pioneering women spearheading the charity,” said Tara Dale, Head of Fundraising. “It’s bittersweet to see how the greatest challenges facing over 50s in Plymouth have been relatively unchanged over the years. Themes of isolation, loneliness, and a rising cost of living are reoccurring throughout our history but what is heartening to see is the ever-present and essential support provided by charities like ourselves and our partners across the city.”

As well as looking back at the past eight decades, Age UK Plymouth were also celebrating some of their more recent success stories. Just last month the Information and Advice Team shared the news that in just one quarter they had successfully secured almost £600,000 in entitlements for clients calling on the organisation for support, as well as achieving their AQS and Age UK quality assurance accreditations. Teams, volunteers and trustees were also joined by some recognisable figures from the charity’s past including Sara Grier, the former President of Age UK Plymouth. Contributors to the exhibits included Carmella Mckenzie, a local author who had previously worked with Elspeth Sitters in the 70s and 80s on a radio show, broadcast weekly on Plymouth Sound Radio.

Guests at the event were given insight into the future of Age UK Plymouth including exciting developments into the new Young Persons Volunteering Programme in partnership with Plymstock School. Also revealed to visitors were early plans for 2023’s fundraising challenges as well as opportunities for volunteering, donating and contributing towards the charity on an individual basis or with the charity’s recently revamped corporate Support Packages.